Improvement in watch-balances



A. F. CURPEN.

WATCH-BALANCE.

No.18Z,358.

Patented Set/.19, 1876.

NVPETFJIS, PHOTO-LITHQGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D c.

I UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

AUGUST F. GURPEN, OF PLYMOUTH, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATCH-BALANCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,358, datedSeptember 19, 1876; application filed June 20, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, AUGUST FERDINAND OUR-PEN, of Plymouth, in the countyof Richland and State of Ohio, have invented a new and usefulImprovementin Watches, of which the following is a specification:

The invention consists of a mode of connecting the balance-wheel to thestaff, so that in case the watch falls the wheel will move on the staffby the shock, and be stopped by the plates of the watch, if the Watchfalls flat on its side, or by other plates provided for the purpose incase the watch falls on the edge, thus protecting the jewels frombreaking, and saving considerable expense for repairs, as only thereadjustment of the wheel on the staff will be necessary in this case;whereas, new jewels have to be put in generally when the watch falls.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the top of the watch with the case removed,in which the balance-wheel is contrived according to my invention. Fig.2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 is a section, of one of the platesthat l apply to arrest the wheel when the watch strikes on the edge.Fig. 4 is a section of the wheel on the line y y, Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is ahorizontal section on the line 2 z of Fig. at; and Fig. 6 is a top viewof one of the collars employed for attaching the wheel to the staff.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the cross-bar or arm of the balancewheel, in which is a hole, B,larger than the staff 0 and the tube D of the collar E, which fits onthe staff, and passes through the hole B of the arm, to receive thesplit-spring collar F, which pinches tube D of collar Eo fi the stafi',soas, to hold'its pl eohthe' staff by "friction, and thecoH rs 1 and Dpinch the bar A, so as to hold the staff in the center by friction, sothat a shock in any direction will allow the wheel to shift on thestaff, and strike against something to break its force, and thus protectthe staff and thejewels.

If the watch falls Hat on one side, the balance-wheel will shift alongto, and be arrested by, the top plate. If it strikes on the other side,the wheel will be stopped by the balance and barrel bridges; and, if itstrikes on the edge, it will strike against one of the plates G, which Iattach for that purgose.

The pin H of the collar E works in the slot of bar A, to prevent theinertia of the wheel from displacing it in its friction-collars.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The balance-wheel of a watch, having freedom inits hole for the staff, and being connected to it betweenfriction-collars, which allow-it to shift laterally by the shocks of thewatch when it falls on its edge, substantially as specified.

2. The balance-wheel of a watch, connected to the staff by collars,which are attached by friction, to allow the wheel to shift along to,and be stopped by, the bridges or the top plate when the watch fallsflat or sidewise, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of plates G with the bal ance-wheel of a watch,having freedom in its hole for the staff, and being connected to itbetween friction-collars, which allow it to shift laterally by theshocks of the watch when it falls on the edge, substantially asspecified.

AUGUST FERDINAND (JURPEN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. HOFMAN, A. H. HUTCHISON.

